Examples of topics completed by undergraduates as part of their capstone research experience in Geology over the past 5 years are listed below; a comprehensive list of the ~500 projects completed since 1972 can be accessed through the Geology Senior Thesis page.

Interns, Lab Assistants and Researchers (publications/presentations produced from this work can be found here)

Current | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

Current

• Dangol, Achyut (UM undergraduate)
  Transport and Storage of Coarse and Fine Grained Sediment, Little Paint Branch Creek
  (Advisor: Dr. Prestegaard and Blanchet, Graduate Student)
• Drymala, Susan (UM undergraduate)
  Floral Indicators of Late Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum Climate Change in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming
  (Advisor: Drs. Holtz and Kaufman and Wing)
• Gaeman, Jodi (UM undergraduate)
  Thermal Evolution of an Early Magma Ocean
  (Advisor: Dr. Hier-Majumder)
• Gribbin, Jill (UM undergraduate)
  Insights into deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments from measurements of permeability and porosity
  (Advisor: Drs. Zhu and Tivey)
• Hanson, Cory (UM undergraduate)
  Vein Related Mass Transport in the Ritter Range Roof Pendant during Late Cretaceous Contact Metamorphism
  (Advisor: Drs. Penniston-Dorland and Piccoli and McDonough)
• Kingman, Gus (UM undergraduate)
  Constraining depositional ages of Potomac Terrane formations by zircon U/Pb isotope analysis
  (Advisor: Drs. Martin and Piccoli)
• Lillibridge, Jeffrey (UM undergraduate)
  Estimating water flux over a tidal cycle in tidal marsh networks based on tidal prism and gauge height
  (Advisor: Dr. Prestegaard and Seldomridge, Graduate Student)
• Mitchell, Garrett (UM undergraduate)
  Rift interaction at the Galápagos Triple Junction
  (Advisor: Dr. Montesi)
• Occhi, Marcie (UM undergraduate)
  Sources of Stream Discharge in the North East and North West Branches of the Anacostia Watershed
  (Advisor: Dr. Prestegaard)
• Slobodyanik, Darya (UM undergraduate)
  Using Chemical Contaminant Profiles to Determine Sediment Depositional History at Little Paint Branch Creek
  (Advisor: Drs. Prestegaard and McDonough and Ash)
• Wernecke, Nina (UM undergraduate)
  The Color of the Lower Mantle
  (Advisor: Dr. Campbell)

2008

• Bilenker, Laura (UM undergraduate)
  A Phase Equilibrium Study of Cu-Fe Sulfides Between 700°C and 800°C
  (Advisor: Drs. Candela and Piccoli and Tattich, Graduate student)
• Kosiba, Andrew (UM undergraduate)
  Stability of Gravel Bars & Bedload Transport in Paint Branch Creek
  (Advisor: Dr. Prestegaard and Blanchet Graduate student)
• Leone, Eugenia (UM undergraduate)
  Correlating the "Fulton Site" within the Gettysburg Basin
  (Advisor: Drs. Holtz and Merck and Fulton and Weems)
• Raum, Joseph (UM undergraduate)
  Measuring U-Pb Zircon Ages in the Bear Island Granodiorite
  (Advisor: Dr. Martin)
• Skold, Peter (UM undergraduate)
  Investigation of Keyser Limestone Paleoenvironments at the Cumberland Bone Cave
  (Advisor: Dr. Holtz)
• Via, Marco (UM undergraduate)
  Topography, Melting, and Viscosity Near the Core-Mantle Boundary
  (Advisor: Dr. Hier-Majumder)

2007

• Behrns, Krystle (UM undergraduate)
  Evaluation of Channel Adjustments to Urbanization on the Paint Branch Stream System
  (Advisor: Dr. Prestegaard)
• Bilenker, Laura (UM undergraduate)
  Phase equilibrium study of sulfides between 700°C and 800°C.
  (Advisors: Drs. Candela and Piccoli)
• Kosiba, Andrew (UM undergraduate)
  Analysis of the Paint Branch Gravel Bars and Bedload Transport.
  (Advisors: Dr. Prestegaard and Blanchet, Graduate student)
• Leone, Eugenia (UM undergraduate)
  Stratigraphic Correlation of the “Fulton Site” in the Gettysburg Basin
  (Advisors: Drs. Holtz, Merck, Fulton)
• Nguyen, Helen (UM undergraduate)
  Melting of Olivine (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄ Under High Pressure
  (Advisor: Dr. Campbell)
• Raum, Joey (UM undergraduate)
  Rocks of the Potomac Terrane
  (Advisor: Dr. Martin)
• Soneira, Casey (UM undergraduate)
  Investigation of Fault Control at Mather Gorge and Petrographic Analysis of Lamprophyre Dikes
  (Advisor: Dr. Martin)
• Streker, Peter (UM undergraduate)
• Thomas, Robert (UM undergraduate)
  Effect of Phase Transition and High Pressure on Trace Element Partitioning Between Metal and Sulfide Melt
  (Advisor: Drs. Campbell and Fei)
• Weinstein, David (UM undergraduate)
  Taphonomy of the Late Pleistocene Key Largo Limestone: A Comparison of Modern and Ancient Coral Reef Ecosystems
  (Advisor: Drs. Kaufman, Holtz, Ginsburg, Garza-Perez)

2006

• Aeiker, Dusty (UM undergraduate)
  Internship to develop an international seawater standard for lithium isotopes
  (Advisors: Drs. W. F. McDonough, R.L. Rudnick and Piccoli)
• Burgy, Kate (UM undergraduate)
  The measurement of small-scale structures to determine their iInfluence on the orientation of the Mather Gorge of the Potomac River, Maryland and Virginia, USA
  (Advisors: Drs. Martin and Zen)
• Grabowski, Sandra (UM undergraduate)
  Evaluation of Marsh Restoration Progress at Blackwater National Wildlife Reserve
  (Advisors: Drs. Prestegaard and Needleman (ENST))
• Limburg, David (UM undergraduate)
  An analysis of apatite chemistry in garnet porphyroblasts and in the matrix of metamorphic rocks
  (Advisor: Dr. Piccoli)
• Masterson, Andrew (UM undergraduate)
  Anomalous fractionation patterns of multiple S-isotopes in the broadband UV photolysis of He-SO₂
  (Advisors: Drs. Wing and Farquhar)
• McCleaf, Ashley (UM undergraduate)
  Hydraulics affecting bedrock erosion at a stream knickpoint
  (Advisor: Prestegaard)
• Pitcher, Lynette (UM undergraduate)
  The behavior of rhenium and the platinum group elements during fractional crystallization of the Kilauea Iki Lava Lake in Hawaii
  (Advisors: Drs. Walker and Helz)
• Shansby, Andrew (UM undergraduate)
  Comparison of the petrology of samples from two amphibolite facies localities from the Andrelândia Group, Brazil
  (Advisors: Drs. Brown and Piccoli, Reno, Ph.D. student)
• Youell, Lynn (UM undergraduate)
  Experimental determination of the partitioning behavior of silver between various silver between various sulfide phases and electrum
  (Advisors: Drs. Candela and Piccoli)
• Williams, Brendan (UM undergraduate)
  A sulfur isotopic study of neoproterozoic evaporites in the shaler supergroup, Victoria Island, Northwest Territories, Canada
  (Advisors: Dr. Kaufman and Johnston, Ph.D. student)

2005

• Baker, Emily (UM Undergraduate)
  Internship to specialize in the the petrographic analysis and isolation of specimens for the geochemical analysis
  (Advisor: Dr. R. Rudnick)
• Chung, Elena (UM undergraduate)
  Internship specializing in chromatographic separation of Lithium in geological samples
  (Advisors: Drs. R.L. Rudnick, W. F. McDonough and F.Z. Teng)
• Hulbert, Jacquiline (UM undergraduate)
  Internship to evaluate the role of fluids in the eruption of felsic Yellowstone magmas (with Dr. Piccoli); Laboratory aide in project related to characterization of apatite chemistry in high-grade metamorphic rocks
  (NFS-funded, PIs Drs. Brown and Piccoli)
• James, Jonathan (UM undergraduate)
  Internship specializing in preparation of geological materials for quantitative analysis
  (advisors R. Rudnick and S. Timpa).
• James, Jonathan (UM undergraduate)
  Internship in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman).
• Losey, Cara (UM undergraduate)
  Internship to analyses of geological materials using laser ablation-ICP-mass spectrometry
  (Advisor: W. F. McDonough)
• Masterson, Andrew (UM undergraduate)
  Aids with the study of biological isotope effects involving oxygen and sulfur
  (Advisor; J. Farquhar and D Johnston)
• McCleaf, Ashley (UM undergraduate)
  Field assistant in Brazil, summer 2005
  (with Barry Reno, PhD student; NFS-funded, PIs Drs. Brown and Piccoli)
• McCleaf, Ashley (UM undergraduate)
  Internship in mineral separation techniques and MS spectral analyses
  (with Drs. W.F. McDonough and J. Baldwin and Barry Reno, PhD student)
• McLeaf, Ashley (UM undergraduate)
  Internship in stable isotope geochemistry
  (with Dr. Kaufman)
• Paraoan, Jett   (senior at Oxon Hill High School)
  Water analyses in the Washington DC Area (Senior Research Practicum)
  (Advisor: W. F. McDonough)
• Shetty, Purushottam (UM graduate student)
  Internship in computer programming for the plasma mass spectrometry laboratory
  (Advisor: W. F. McDonough)
• Soneria, Casey (UM undergraduate)
  Internship in instrument development for the plasma mass spectrometry laboratory
  (Advisor: W. F. McDonough)

2004

• Baker, Deborah (UM undergraduate)
  Aids with the chemical isolation of atmospheric sulfate and nitrate from precipitation
  (Advisor; J. Farquhar and K. Cooney)
• Hertz, Marla (UM undergraduate)
  Aids with the chemical isolation of sulfate from Archean carbonates
  (Advisor; J. Farquhar and J Kaufman)
• Huang, Grace(Montgomery Blair HS)
  Studied photoxidation reactions involving hydrogen sulfide
  (Advisor B. Wing)
• Jones, Victoria (Prince George's County Public School Science and Technology Program
  Computer simulation of rigid clast rotation in viscous flows.
  (Advisor: D. Jiang)
• Masterson, Andrew (UM undergraduate)
  Field Assistant in Brazil, summer 2004
  (with Barry Reno, PhD student; NFS-funded, PIs Drs. Brown and Piccoli)
• Schumann, Kimberley (UM undergraduate)
  Study of the history of northern Appalachians using Re/Os in Newfoundland
  (results presented at UM undergraduate research day)
  (Advisor W. Minarik)

2003

• Azzer, Bou (UM undergraduate)
  Research on ultramafic rocks from Morocco.
  (Advisor W. Minarik)
• Bao, Ning (Montgomery Blair High School)
  Replication of the Miller-Urey experiments on the abiotic origin of life
  (Advisor: J. Farquhar)
• Booker, Cherina (UM undergraduate)
  Internship in radiogenic isotope geochemistry.
  (Advisor W. Minarik)
• Gale, Allie (UM undergraduate)
  Research on the origin of rocks at Patapsco Valley State Park
  (results presented at UM undergraduate research day)
  (Advisor W. Minarik)
• Njo, Heather (UM undergraduate)
  Internship on lithium isotope geochemistry of saprolites
  (advisor R. Rudnick and P. Tomascak) [through 2004]
• Thompson, Ruth (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2003]
• Waller, Michael (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2003]

2002

• Emily Baker (UM undergraduate)
  Variety of lab-related tasks
  (advisor R. Rudnick and W. McDonough) [through 2004].
• Cassara, Jason (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2004]
• Zhao, Robin (Montgomery-Blair High School)
  Construction of an isotopic line for the analysis of meteorites
  (Advisor: J. Farquhar)
• O'Driscoll, Leland (Humboldt State University)
  Isolation of S from Archean Banded Iron Formations
  (Advisor: J. Farquhar)
• Watt, Eric (Towson State University)
  Paragenesis of tourmalines in early Paleozoic metasediments of the Maryland piedmont. Research presented at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America
  (Advisor: S.M. Lev and R.J. Burks; UM contact P.Piccoli)
• Dickson, Timothy A. (Montgomery Blair High School)
  Computer simulation of single-layer folding.
  (Advisor: D. Jiang)

2001

• Dill, R.A. (The College of WIlliam and Mary)
  Mineralogical and chemical variability plus a three-amphibole occurrence in an outcrop of the Chopawamsic Formation, central Piedmont Province, Virginia. Research presented at the Geological Society of America
  (Advisor: B.E. Owens; UM Contact P.Piccoli)
• Harp, Jeff (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman)
• Krelove, Kelly (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2002]
• Laszlo, Istvan (UM)
  Internship to aid in the development of algorithms for the efficient operation of LA-ICPMS software for analysis reduction
  (Advisor: W. McDonough)
• Mauck, Taylor (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2003]
• Webber, Caroline (The College of William and Mary)
  Generation of granitic dikes: can texture, mineralogy, and geochemistry be
  used as guides to determine the mechanisms of diking? Research presented at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America
  (Advisors P.A. Candela, P. Piccoli and A. Simon).
• Wright, Kathleen (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman)
• Ewing, Anna (James Madison University)
  Trace elements in ruitel as an indicator of provenance
  (Advisors T. Zack and R. Rudnick)

2000

• Berquist, Peter (William and Mary undergraduate)
  Summer laboratory assistant
  (Advisor: Dr. Kaufman)
• Chemtob, Steven (Montgomery Blair High School)
  Microbiota and weathering of ultramafic rocks. Research presented at the University of Maryland Biosciences Day
  (Advisors P. Candela, P. Piccoli and S. Lower)
• Dickerson, Susan (College of William and Mary)
  Kyanite color as a clue to contrasting protolith compositions for kyanite quartzites in the Piedmont Province of Virginia. Southeastern Geology
  (Advisor: B.E. Owens; UM contact P.Piccoli)
• Hebert, Craig (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2001]

1999

• Deng, Wei-Li (Montgomery Blair High School)
  Crystallization kinetics of quartz in granitic dikes estimated from crystal size
  distributions. Research presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting
  (Advisors: P.A. Candela and P.M. Piccoli).
• Missell, Christine (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2001]

1998

• Baker, Laura (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2000]
• Poulos, Anastasia (UM senior summer scholar)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 2001]
• Walter, Talia (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 1999]

1997

• Koval, Anthony (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 1998]
• Richardson, William (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 1998]
• Asuquo, Blessing (UM undergraduate)
  Laboratory assistant in stable isotope geochemistry
  (advisor Dr. Kaufman) [through 1998]